Fate - First Reply The Grove's Protector

[Nairth San'Seya]

It was his concern for the wellbeing of nature around him that now caused Nairth to stir. He'd felt it in his right arm: A small twinge of pain that told him one of his thresholds protecting this place had been crossed by mortal. His slumbering eyes shot open, their golden hues burning with a flame not of fury, but of wonderment. It had been ages since anybody had crossed his wards, and ages since he had spoken to a being not of his own kind.

As if responding to his excitement, branches from the trees around him began to grow rapidly, the rustling of their many leaves overpowering the sound of idle nature around them as they extended downwards, the thin lengths of wooden branch wrapping around the laying Nairth's wrists and gently lifting him up and off of his 'bed'. As he was carried to the soft mossy dirt beneath, a swarm of butterflies of all sizes and colors would erupt from the bushes and treetops to surround the Fae's naked form. By the time Nairth could feel the softness of Arethil beneath his feet, the bugs had changed; a living robe with the colors of all of the creatures who had swarmed him now covered his body.

The branches release him, and he stretches his arms out lackadaisically, allowing a yawn to escape him. "I'd be much more elated, were my apparent guest not interrupting a nap." His droning sarcasm aside, he was wise enough to be on his guard. He knew mortals well enough to know that most of them had no thought for the sanctity of life around them. Selfish creatures...

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"It's not a magical nexus? But the power radiating from this place is immense!"
Selina conversed with her familiar, a spirit summoned in the form of a little margay cat. The margay, named Dale, spoke with a resigned tone.
"I would tell you to turn back, you really don't want to mess with places like this... But I know you won't listen to me so I'm telling ya that you got to be ready, set up your wards and cast your mage armor. You need every edge you can get!"
That was the beauty of a witches familiar over an arcane familiar, they actually knew things that their summoners didn't know.

"If I go into somebodies home, past all their wards and protections, I probably shouldn't go in fire blazing... If it's dangerous I have you and Umbar to watch my back and a head full of arcane knowledge. We'll get out like we always have."
Selina had made it her mission to locate various magical nexus across Arethil. These nexus were the crossings of magical leylines, and sometimes a crossing consisted of several leylines. At the location of these nexus a grove was often formed, a grove where everything touched was a thing of magical and enchanted qualities. Herbs more potent, materials more durable and higher quality, the monsters and animals more special or dangerous. The more leyines intersecting the more powerful the materials and creatures of the grove.

Selina touched her staff to the outer wards and recited a dispelling incantation. She had no magic in or of herself, but her staff was crafted with a tree from a powerful nexus of many crossings. It was the bridge that allowed her to manipulate the flow of magic into her spells.
She opened a door in the wards and stepped through. It was like stepping into another plane of existence, the colors were so bright and otherworldly and everything was alive, it showed all the signs of a nexus with at least five or six intersecting leylines.

The peace in the air was almost tangible, and every step she took seemed loud and obnoxious, disturbing the quiet wildlife and made her feel bad for being there. But she pressed on, her eyes on a sharp lookout for herbs and enemies alike.
She approached the clearing and stopped in her tracks... She watched as a naked man was lowered to the ground and then dressed by the butterflies.
She gulped nervously... If this man was a creature of the fey then she was either screwed or very lucky.

Steeling her nerves and taking a deep breath she stepped forward into the clearing.
She had prepared what she was going to say but now that she was face to face with one of the fey she was at a loss for words.
She just stared with a look of awe on her face.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth was quite uncertain who he was to expect encroaching on his territory. One would need a significant magical ability to bypass wards created from a Duanann's ley magick. Should a being of such power wish to threaten violence against him, he would be forced to break his personal code. On the other hand, there were ways around such a strength requirement. Nonetheless, he couldn't help finding himself more curious than angry.

Nairth's relationship with non-Fae was a complicated. They were life, and just as he loved life so too did he love humanity and it's many branches and offshoots. They were a cunning, resourceful and hardy type.

But many of them cared not for that which Nairth protected. They mindlessly tore down forests and drained lakes to build their cities of stone and steel. They were, for all of their admirable qualities, lesser of mind. There was a line to his love, one that was not to be crossed. He could not trust any who was not of his blood not to attempt and steal away that which was his. At least, not entirely. Trust or not, he did not cause harm to other life.

So when he slid those golden eyes opened, his sharpened hearing guiding his head to the source of the only sound that disturbed the peace of his little world to meet the human woman who now stepped through the trees into the heart of his little grove, the tall broad shouldered Duanann offered her a warm smile that hid his discomfort with her presence.

"It's been some time since I've seen a human, let alone had one walk into my little patch of forest without knocking first." A gentle laugh bubbled from his throat, offset by the deepness of his voice. He raises his hands, and the canopy of leaves over their heads changes shape. The shapes of shadow that littered the ground from the sunlight peaking through the leaves shifts so that the sun shines down on his visitor brightly, as though nature itself was placing a spotlight on her.

He begins to move towards her, step by step. As large as he was, his footfalls seemed silent as he moved; sticks and dirt beneath his feet did not break or shift beneath his weight. "What brings you to my Grove, human?" His eyes scanned her as he moved closer, seeking to learn how she got this far. She looked well enough for a human, but he sensed no magical energy from her. On the contrary, she seemed as ordinary as could be. The way she was looking at him spoke to the fact she must not have expected him here...

"Is it power you seek? Knowledge? Pleasure?" He purred to the woman as he now circled her, his eyes roaming over her as if appraising her every inch. They were all things he'd been asked to provide before by her kind.

That staff she held, it was powerful. He felt magic within it that had far surpassed his own ability as a younger Fae. Dangerous magic indeed, if in the wrong hands. He could re-ward the Grove so that such a staff would not suffice in breaking his protections, but that would come later. "What..." He asked gently "Is your name?"

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"It's been some time since I've seen a human, let alone had one walk into my little patch of forest without knocking first."

His words seemed to wake her up from her stupor.
Dale was also staring, but not in awe. His feline eyes wide with tense fear and his body tense to bolt, his voice a whisper as he extended and retracted his claws nervously, "Shit... We're dead, we're so screwed..."
Selina cleared her throat, "I-I apologize, I would have knocked but I... Uh... Didn't know what tree to knock on?"
She really hoped he had a sense of humor... She was staking her life on it. She could cast powerful spells and might be able to put up a fight, but she didn't have the sort of power to truly stand up to a higher being... Yet...

"What brings you to my Grove, human?"

He moved towards her, his unearthly golden eyes watching her, taking in every detail about her to do gods know what in that alien brain of his.
She was at a loss for words again, his unearthly beauty continuously striking her dumb.

"Is it power you seek? Knowledge? Pleasure?"

She remained motionless as he circled her, not in a predatory way... or so she hoped... But more like one who inspects a racing horse or a lady shopping for a new dress...
When he mentioned pleasure she wondered what sort of woman would survive an encounter with him... If she would survive... If she wanted to survive she had to find her wits, put up her guard which he had so easily thrown off.
She took a deep breath to calm her beating heart and quivering limbs.

"What..." He asked gently "Is your name?"

She closed her eyes and took a final deep breath before opening her eyes and pulling herself up straighter.
"I am Selina Altas. I am a Wizard and it is Knowledge that I seek. I am here in your grove to learn the secrets of magic that are hidden here... I did not know that one such as yourself would be here, but since you are I find myself hoping that you would share your knowledge with me..."

This was it, either he'd help her, send her away, or kill her... Or lie to her, deceive her, trick her. This wasn't her first encounter with the Fae or beings of similar origin. The spiritual realm was not unknown to her and she'd tapped into it many times when she was a witch and made a pact with the Leafsie Lord, as well as made a pact with her familiar and the Barghest as her ghostly bond. With the aid of these spirits she'd learned many things about the nature of magic in all its forms, it gave her insight into magic that surpassed all of her college classes put together.

Magic and the way of the world was all she truly cared about, learning those secrets and putting them into her spellbooks. She wanted it all, and she would go to any lengths to get them.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

The expression Nairth wore as she struggled through her nerves to speak and answer his call was constant; a small smile adorned his lips, and his eyes slid shut as though listening intently to every word she said. Really, all that mattered to the Fae was her final answer.

If the awe she was struggling to contain bothered him, he made no motion to show it. Instead, he interrupted her stutter with his own assurances, his eyes sliding open to meet her own. She was afraid, and he understood that. "I will bring no harm to you, Mortal. I assure you, I am not of a vengeful nature... Just answer my query." The Duanann punctuated with a light nod in her direction.

His pacing stopped upon hearing the answer she provided him with. A practitioner of the arcane, coming to seek knowledge from a place pure ley energy could be tapped into? She was far from the first to seek out the roots of magick, and the intense presence that weighed on her like a heavy curtain seemed to raise a bit as his posture loosened. The light coming from the trees seemed to dim at their branches returned to a normal state. His arms crossed over his chest now, the odd butterfly clothing he wore parting to expose the skin where he touched.

A low hum would sound from Nairth's throat, seeming to harmonize quite well with the sounds of nature around them. His head cocked to one side, lips parting to allow a breathy chuckle to escape him. He had to admire her bravery; even in the face of a creature she knew to have the power to wipe her from existence she stood firm and made her request. Many lesser men and women would have already fled, but it was testament to the hardiness of mortals that they were capable of such boldness. "The secrets of ley magick are not ones so readily shared to mortals. It would be quite unseelie of me to indulge you with all that I know. Far too reckless indeed." He mused. Even so, he found his better judgement failing him a bit. He'd always had such a soft spot for mortals, and this one was showing quite a bit of spirit.

"You came to a place few have ventured, stood before a Duanann and looked him in the eye while you requested his wisdom. That is an action that has seen many die. You are very brave, Selina Atlas, if nothing else." He brings a hand to his hair, brushing some of it from his eyes as he turns his gaze to a large patch of violet colored flowers some distance away from the two of them. As if responding to his gaze, the flowers shift and begin to bloom larger, a vibrant reflective sheen glimmering in the sunlight. "I have a proposition for you, Mortal. A deal." There was that magic word. He hadn't made a deal with a mortal in generations, but she had made a good impression on him. "Those are Gerrin Root Violets, the last that are known to exist in all of Arethil. They once shone beautifully in the sun all across Falwood, ancient elves used to refer to it as 'glitter weed' because how how splendorous it's shine is." The butterflies covering his body shifted, leaving his form briefly as they flew in unison towards the Gerrin Violets. Nairth followed them, gesturing for Selina to join him as he moved swiftly to the beautiful plants. "I would request that you spread the seeds from these violets across this forest, and give them a chance to survive for another generation. In return, I will grant you your request, and bestow upon you some of the secrets I hold."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

He was kind and reassuring and she drew confidence from that. His presence that weighed on her lifted and she took a breath of relief.

"The secrets of ley magick are not ones so readily shared to mortals. It would be quite unseelie of me to indulge you with all that I know. Far too reckless indeed."

She shook her head, "I mean no disrespect... I've already been to many magical Nexus, I've studied them and crafted many things with the materials and ingredients I found there, my staff came from a powerful grove as well."

"You came to a place few have ventured, stood before a Duanann and looked him in the eye while you requested his wisdom. That is an action that has seen many die. You are very brave, Selina Atlas, if nothing else." He brings a hand to his hair, brushing some of it from his eyes as he turns his gaze to a large patch of violet colored flowers some distance away from the two of them. As if responding to his gaze, the flowers shift and begin to bloom larger, a vibrant reflective sheen glimmering in the sunlight. "I have a proposition for you, Mortal. A deal."

She nodded and listened to him... This was it, a deal. A deal with the fae was the most risky undertaking for a mortal, she had to be cautious.

"Those are Gerrin Root Violets, the last that are known to exist in all of Arethil. They once shone beautifully in the sun all across Falwood, ancient elves used to refer to it as 'glitter weed' because how how splendorous it's shine is." The butterflies covering his body shifted, leaving his form briefly as they flew in unison towards the Gerrin Violets. Nairth followed them, gesturing for Selina to join him as he moved swiftly to the beautiful plants. "I would request that you spread the seeds from these violets across this forest, and give them a chance to survive for another generation. In return, I will grant you your request, and bestow upon you some of the secrets I hold."

She blinked and looked up at him.
"Really? Is that it? I know so many forbidden secrets already, ones that mortals haven't known for millenia and even secrets hidden by otherworldly creatures. I humbly ask that if you choose to share your knowledge with me, please do not hold back. If there is a greater task I can do in return for that I will do it if it's in my power."

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

A light scoff escaped amused lips as she expounded on her previous experience with Nexus and the groves that indicated them. She was brazen, but like so many other humans that he had met, she toed the line of arrogant. His silvery locks fell over his face as he tilted his head down at her, the difference in their size only more clear from this short distance. She would detect his scent; wood, water and leaves wrapped into a delightful fragrance that seemed to fill the air around him.

"To study and experiment is not the same as being told the truth of what you observe. You would do well not to underestimate the weight of spoken wisdom, Selina Atlas." It was spoken as a reprimand, a reminder not to tread too recklessly with him. He was patient, but that patience was not infinite. "I assure you the words I offer are ones that are well worth the task laid ahead of you."

He outstretched a hand to the Gerrin Violets, and their blooms opened completely, the seeds from within them floating out from between their petals and moving to Nairth's palm. "You underestimate the difficulty of this task as well." He held out the small handful of seeds, at least two dozen of them. "These flowers did not become so rare by chance. Both the petals and the seeds are a delicacy to beast and man alike. They elicit a euphoric, orgasmic response in most mortals. They are highly sought after for this extremely pleasurable reaction, as you might expect."

He flicked his other hand towards the flowers again, and they closed, receding back to their original, diminutive size. He offers Selina a smile as he puts forth the true test he had laid out for her. "Your success will be judged not on the planting of the seeds, but on how well you can use what secrets you've learned thus far to protect them from harm." He closed his eyes, an elated expression on his face. "Should you exceed my expectations, I may see fit to grant you even greater boon, Selina Atlas."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"To study and experiment is not the same as being told the truth of what you observe. You would do well not to underestimate the weight of spoken wisdom, Selina Atlas." It was spoken as a reprimand, a reminder not to tread too recklessly with him. He was patient, but that patience was not infinite. "I assure you the words I offer are ones that are well worth the task laid ahead of you."

She took the reprimand, she hadn't meant her words in an arrogant way, she merely spoke the truth of her experiences and thought she could bypass a longer winded explanation of her capabilities by cutting to the chase. She looked at the ground and nodded, "I... Yes I know... I apologize if it sounded like I didn't understand that."

"You underestimate the difficulty of this task as well." He held out the small handful of seeds, at least two dozen of them. "These flowers did not become so rare by chance. Both the petals and the seeds are a delicacy to beast and man alike. They elicit a euphoric, orgasmic response in most mortals. They are highly sought after for this extremely pleasurable reaction, as you might expect."

She looked at the seeds in his palm and the task set before her. These plants lacked a natural defense mechanism and thus faced extinction do to over consumption... She thought back to his offer of pleasure and wondered if this was how he would have done it had she gone down that route.
Already her mind brought forward spells and enchantments she could use to safeguard these seeds, rituals of protection, wards and shields against whatever danger she specified... But she wanted to do something out of the box... Needless to say, she felt no shortage of options on how to accomplish this task.

"Your success will be judged not on the planting of the seeds, but on how well you can use what secrets you've learned thus far to protect them from harm." He closed his eyes, an elated expression on his face. "Should you exceed my expectations, I may see fit to grant you even greater boon, Selina Atlas."

Just from hearing the task itself and the options presented to her off the bat she didn't feel like this even came close to scratching the surface of all the secrets she knew. One way or the other these seeds will bloom and thrive under her care.
She looked up at him, "Thank you, my lord... I will greatly value your gift. But I feel that I must stress that I said what I did not out of arrogance or posturing, I simply thought to assuage any fears you may have harbored of breaking my mind by revealing your great secrets."
She smiled, "I specialize in knowing thinks I shouldn't... And everything about them."

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

The Duanann reached out now, taking one of her small hands in his much larger ones. He gently lifts her hand towards where he carried the seeds, and with all the care in the world he delicately pours the seeds onto her palm. "Rest assured." His voice was as soft as velvet as he purred down to her, his eyes narrowing in some sort of affection to meet her smile. "I would not have offered you this opportunity if I did not have faith in your ability to succeed, dear Selina Atlas."

He certainly hoped that she wouldn't get herself killed. As much as he hated to admit it, he was quite fond of her ambition. Humans had a tendency to rise above their stations, to reach for goals and knowledge far above their birthright. It was a trait he both envied and loathed at the same time.

Selina Atlas was, at least, treating such an undertaking with a level of respect he wasn't often shown by mortals.

He releases her hand slowly, his fingers tracing her own before he allowed his hands to fall back to his sides, and meet behind his back. The last words she spoke caused his brows to shift, and he looked at her with... what was that expression on his face now? Intrigue? "Is that so? Be careful, it can be very dangerous to make me curious." He teased her lightly.

"Now, where do you begin? Please take note that I will be accompanying you on this task. I must ensure the safety of those seeds in the event that you are killed, but I will not be interfering with any danger to you." His head cocks to the side, and grins. "Lead the way."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"Rest assured." His voice was as soft as velvet as he purred down to her, his eyes narrowing in some sort of affection to meet her smile. "I would not have offered you this opportunity if I did not have faith in your ability to succeed, dear Selina Atlas."

She averted her eyes from his, but she was smiling, "Thank you my lord, you honor me with your confidence... But my family name is Altas, not Atlas."

"Is that so? Be careful, it can be very dangerous to make me curious."

She took that statement seriously, but it didn't warrant a response. She nodded somberly and took the warning.

"Now, where do you begin? Please take note that I will be accompanying you on this task. I must ensure the safety of those seeds in the event that you are killed, but I will not be interfering with any danger to you." His head cocks to the side, and grins. "Lead the way."

She nodded and closed her hand over the seeds before placing the precious cargo in her bag of holding. The seeds will return to her hand automatically when she reaches into the bag.
She was to do this alone, and maybe she could show off a bit for this fae.

"Very well... I suppose one direction is as good as any?"
She started off towards the south to leave his warded grove.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

He only shook his head at the somber expression that befell her face. She'd put more meaning behind his warning that was necessary. It was, in actuality, a bit of flirtation. He'd been curious to see how the human would react, especially with how respectfully she kept addressing him. It mattered not, the fae decided.

He would watch her as she placed the seeds in a safe location, or at least one that she aimed to make safe. Raising a finger up to his face a few inches away from his lips, a flurry of wings swooped down from the treetops as a sparrow perched on his finger. Leaning in almost as if to kiss the small creature, he cooed at the feathered one with a voice of silk. "Please watch over this place in my absence, dear friend. Should Oberon come looking for me, come and tell me." His words are answered with a sharp chirp, and the sparrow back high into the treetops.

He smiles widely up at the beautiful creature, before turning to Selina and nodding his head. "I shall be behind you at all times." He steps gently to her side, matching her pace as they depart into the lush forest that surrounded his home.

The moment they were clear of any trace of Nairth's protections, the seeds would begin to attract attention from wildlife. They tended to give off a sweet aroma that Nairth suppressed with his own oaken scent. Outside of the place he so often dwelled, however... that would not be enough. Already small critters began to linger by Selina's feet a deal longer than was coincidence; Nothing dangerous, but telling of the challenges to come.

"I must admit your self-proclaimed penchant for knowing things intrigues me, Selina Altas. Many scholars who wished to immerse themselves in the knowledge we fae posses have come and gone. Yet still, you are quite determined that you are no ordinary scholar. I find that to be an attractive trait, for a human. Such ambition."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"I shall be behind you at all times."

That sentence brought a lump to her throat that was hard to swallow down. Fae were unearthly creatures coupled with unearthly beauty and utterly alien minds, she didn't quite know how to react to this creature. She was always focused on her research, she had friends in the college but never a romantic interest. He love was her research.

"I must admit your self-proclaimed penchant for knowing things intrigues me, Selina Altas. Many scholars who wished to immerse themselves in the knowledge we fae posses have come and gone. Yet still, you are quite determined that you are no ordinary scholar. I find that to be an attractive trait, for a human. Such ambition."

This was a subject she was comfortable with.
"I suppose I am considered different, even among my own kind or the other practitioners at the college. The hurdles I had to go through to touch and interact with magic were considerably more than what a normal magical student had to go through."
She walked with her staff and took note of the reactions of the creatures around her, this plant really was potent stuff. With a brief whispered arcane sentence and a flickering glow from her staff and she had warded herself against the effects, she had to keep a clear mind to accomplish this task and it wouldn't due to be distracted by her own womanly needs heightened by a drug.
"I study everything, magic and things of science. Magic is another aspect of our world and so I study it just as fervently as everything else. And once I've learned everything I can I want to share those secrets with the world."

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth was a being based on love itself. He was passionate, gentle yet relentless. Even his anger and his rage when so rarely exhibited seemed to be an adoration for the world around him and those who inhabited it. Would he have considered this Selina Altas who walked in front of him now to be worthy of feeling the depths of his passion? Would she be one meant to feel his love embrace her so wholly as he showed her the joys that lie hidden to mortals? The ones he could bring about?

Well... it seemed unlikely.

She was resolute, confident even in the face of a duanann. Such a human was rare even in the long life that Nairth had lived comparatively to hers. She spoke of her obstacles not with frustration, but with pride for having overcome them. As they entered southern edge of the forest which resided snugly against the small body of water that ran into Falwood from the Cortosi Coast, Nairth would reach out and place a gentle and yet so powerful hand upon her shoulder. "Your determination and ambition for your studies are quite admirable traits, Selina. It will bring you fortune and renown with or without the aid of one such as I." He would mutter warmly.

The ward she proceeded to cast was performed well, and he could see now how the staff she carried was able to temporarily mitigate his ward. "You're immense generosity is also noted. While ambition in humanity is common, I find such selflessness to be truly lacking among your kind." Well, it would seem the most interesting way this scenario could have ended was now warded against. He certainly couldn't deny the humor in the idea of being bested in such a test by the seeds themselves.

With the seeds warded, Nairth would accompany her to the edge of the trees, where the forest cleared into a small lake fed in from the coast. So far, her ward had done its job. They'd also been lucky enough to avoid encountering any particularly ravenous animals. As Naith placed a palm flatly on her back though, that luck would soon be tested. "Stop. We will plant some seeds here."

The gentle fingers of his hand slid slowly from her body, pointing at the dirt at the water's edge, far enough up the bank so as not to be washed out. The dirt would slowly begin to shake and part as if indicating where Nairth wished for the seeds to rest.

"My advice? Keep your eyes open for wildlife, but do not bring your face too close to the seeds. Should you fall under their effects despite your ward... you will be quite vulnerable."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"Your determination and ambition for your studies are quite admirable traits, Selina. It will bring you fortune and renown with or without the aid of one such as I."

She almost tensed when she felt his hand on her shoulder and his immortal strength.
His words were... Reassuring.
"Thank you... I've had to deal with many people that say my goals are impossible for a mere human, that some of the knowledge I seek simply cannot be contained in the human mind... I've proved them wrong, I'm glad I needn't prove you wrong as well."
She smiled at him and continued on.

"Stop. We will plant some seeds here."

She stopped and examined the spot he indicated. She listened to and heeded his warning. She reached her hand into her bag of holding a a few seeds appeared in her hand.
She could feel the immense pressure on her ward but it held for now.
She placed the seeds into the ground and moved the dirt of them. Wiping dirt from her hands she stood up, gripped her staff in one hand and prepared her other hand to draw out runes in the air.
She began her incantations. She chanted words in a language even unknown to the fae unless he could read her mind and discern the arcane language she had devised for herself.

Her staff glowed on command, providing both the fuel and the medium for her to cast her spells. Raw magic gathered invisibly in front of her and she reached out with her free hand to draw in it, like drawing in sand. Glowing trails appeared as she scribed out the range and function of her spell.
This was a powerful ritual that created a protective ward around an attuned target, the seeds.
She spoke the arcane words as she wrote them in the air, her voice resonating with the magic and given meaning by the written words.

At the completion of the spell the words and the glowing gem inset in her staff burst with arcane light. A glowing circle of arcane script orbited the spot where the seeds were buried and then vanished.
She let out a slow breath and got down on her knees, her preparations weren't complete yet. She began digging more holes in the ground surrounding the euphoric seeds, again her ward against the seeds was put under stress.
She reached into her bag of holding an a different kind of seed appeared in her hand, it was red with black mottling.
She spoke a brief incantation to attune this seed to the ones she was tasked to protect and buried those seeds all around it.

Those seeds began growing quickly, almost immediately pushing up brown colored shoots and Selina stood up, brushing off her hands.
"That should do it. Those are Ruby Reds, a flower designed by druids to act as deadly guardians for their sacred groves."

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth did not speak further than his instruction. It would have been an interesting sight to behold to watch any mortal attempt to spread these seeds in places they had any chance of thriving, but he found Selina's method to be particularly interesting. The wards and runes she utilized were not totally unrecognizable to him, but they were certainly... uncommon. It was not her alone that held this power, however; once again her staff was serving her well, offering her access to powers many never would have the opportunity to tap into. There was a part of him that wanted to ask exactly where she'd found such a thing, and how none of his kin had taken notice of such an aberrant object.

He held his tongue, watching her cast her blessings and protections over his precious violet seeds. He would applaud her on her effort if nothing else; she took the task he afforded her quite seriously. It was a mark of ambition, and Nairth had ever the soft spot for that. No, it wasn't fair to give her staff all of the credit. She used it flawlessly, and he could tell she'd spent long in learning the movements she now performed in his name. He would bring a hand to his chin, running his tips over the smooth flesh of his jaw curiously as she retrieved yet more seeds.

These ones were not his, but he knew what they likely were. Extra measures for the protection of the gerrin roots was something he'd considered growing guardian flowers of a similar nature for himself. Still, Ruby Reds were a rather surprising choice, considering their... efficiency. Nairth was not a purveyor of violence, and his lips curled in some minor show of distaste for the addition of the scarlet seeds. The High Fae would have relied on his wards alone to defend the plants, but then Selina was far from capable of casting wards at the level of a Duanann. Well... not yet. That staff had potential.

"Excellently performed, Miss Altas." He purred, not voicing his concerns regarding the Ruby Reds. "You've practiced well with that staff, and I daresay any who attempt to indulge in these flowers will be in for a surprising bit of resistance..." Slowly moving a hand to gesture down the shoreline, he turns his golden gaze now back to the forest. There was more to be done, and the next location could prove much more trecharous. "We should waste little time, it will be too dangerous to remove the seeds from protection of any kind after night falls."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"Excellently performed, Miss Altas." He purred, not voicing his concerns regarding the Ruby Reds. "You've practiced well with that staff, and I daresay any who attempt to indulge in these flowers will be in for a surprising bit of resistance..."

She smiled and brushed off her hands as she stood up, looking proudly at her handiwork.
"Thanks, see I realized that these seeds of yours are extremely sought after by any creatures, yet they seem to lack any natural defense system like most other plants do. So I created a natural defense for them, another plant to grow with and protect it. These Ruby Reds will deal with any threats be they insect or animal. They can also deal with people in a pinch which is why druids plant them around their groves, but people can find ways around them, thus the wards."
She planted her hands on her hips and watched the deadly petals of the Ruby Reds flower and open, revealing their deadly stingers.

"We should waste little time, it will be too dangerous to remove the seeds from protection of any kind after night falls."

She nodded and picked up her staff which had stood up on its own while she cleaned her hands.
"Very well. I think you'll like the next treat I've got in mind for your seeds. This way?"
She indicated the way he pointed before she marched off in that direction. Once she got started on a project it was only a matter of time before she got excited about it.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth nodded to her, similarly observing the development of the Ruby Reds albeit with a more unreadable expression resting upon his features. Through the silvery locks that poured from his head down over his face, he would eye the woman up and down once more. She was cunning and confident in her abilities, unafraid to display that lack of fear in front of danger.

"I admire the ingenuity, but I would personally have used a non-lethal method." He finally offered, slowly running a hand to his cheek and holding his head to the side as he spoke. "I dissapprove of spending lives to bolster others. However, I am also not so naive that I claim it isn't sometimes a necessary evil." While he made the claim that he would do differently than she had, this was her quest, and her decision would stand. He left the Ruby Reds untouched as they departed to the next location.

They re-entered the thick canopy of trees that made up the vast forests surrounding Nairth's home. The next location was deep within the maze of plants and wildlife, where the sunlight would peek down through the tops to shine down upon the violets and make them thrive. The sounds of life around them would steadily increase, the crescendo of nature seemed to please Nairth's ears, while it might have been disconcerting to others.

"Your blood is pumping now, Miss Altas. I'm glad you've approached my task with such gusto and bravado. Even for a human you have quite the boldness to you. Color me interested." Sometimes, animals would approach Nairth and crawl along his form; Birds, squirrels and all manner of being seemed attracted to him. The longer they walked, however, the more the animals seemed to notice Selina. The duanann took notice of this. "Your protections do not totally mask the scent of what you carry. The creatures are beginning to take notice, so we should act quickly. There..." He pointed at a sunny patch hidden behind mossy stone and tangled vine. She'd have to climb over the rock to reach the spot. "Impress me any more than you already have, and I may find a reason to keep you in mind for some time to come."

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

(Sorry for the abnormal delay. Been out of touch from reception for a bit.)

"I admire the ingenuity, but I would personally have used a non-lethal method." He finally offered, slowly running a hand to his cheek and holding his head to the side as he spoke. "I dissapprove of spending lives to bolster others. However, I am also not so naive that I claim it isn't sometimes a necessary evil."

She nodded, she understood that philosophy but she found that in the untamed world violence could rarely be avoided.
"I understand. But the truth of the issue is that these plants of yours have no natural defenses of themselves, unless you were to allow me to transmute them in such a way that they produce some defense. Otherwise symbiosis with other defensive plants is necessary. Using purely magical means is impractical."

As they reentered the woods Selina was just as accustomed to the rising sounds of nature as her guide. Her time in the witches coven had accustomed her to wilderness living.
Her excitement had yet to abate, her mind abuzz with ideas and spells she could try.

"Your blood is pumping now, Miss Altas. I'm glad you've approached my task with such gusto and bravado. Even for a human you have quite the boldness to you. Color me interested."

The way he phrased that last sentence caught her off guard slightly... The animals weren't the only creatures to feel the effects of her cargo and she could feel small parts of her attention drifting...

"Your protections do not totally mask the scent of what you carry. The creatures are beginning to take notice, so we should act quickly. There..." He pointed at a sunny patch hidden behind mossy stone and tangled vine. She'd have to climb over the rock to reach the spot. "Impress me any more than you already have, and I may find a reason to keep you in mind for some time to come."

She made an involuntary gasp when he spoke again, for his words suddenly sent an electric sensation shooting up her spine.
She shook her head to clear it and focused her eyes on the spot he indicated.
His next words felt like a promise and she suddenly felt a yearning, wishing that he would call on her... She shook her head again.

"One moment... I need to refresh my ward."
With her fingers she drew a glowing symbol in the air in front of her. A purple glowing magical circle appeared in the air with blue glowing runes and symbols running around the circumference.
One of the runes glowed red and she touched it. The first magic circle wrapped around her forearm and another circle appeared with another series of symbols, all glowing red.
Muttering her incantations and drawing in the air she recast the spell before the first could completely break down, the runes glowed blue once again and she gave a dismissing gesture, causing first one then the other circle to disappear.

She gave a sigh of relief as the heady warmth left her mind and receded from between her legs.
She gave the fey a reassuring smile and began climbing over the rock to reach the spot.
She dropped down into the little clearing and went to work planting the seeds.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth didn't entirely disagree with Selina's point. The preservation of all life was more of a facet of Nairth's alignment and Fae mindset than it was a feasible reality. Being naturally connected to life was not without it's downsides, as it bore with it a very humbling lesson: You cannot save everything. It was that lesson that had taken Nairth the longest of all to come to terms with on his many generations in Arethil. "That is true enough, Miss Altas. I did not say you were incorrect in your decision, only that I likely would be."

It was a rare thing for a Fae as powerful as Nairth to admit fault so easily, but it followed a trend in their conversation that Selina herself had set; the longer the two of them spent together, the less she spoke to him as a Fae and the more she spoke to him as though he were a fellow human; candidly and matter of factly, with no fear as to how she may come across.

To many of his kind it may have been irksome. Nairth found it rather fascinating, to be spoken to so casually. Selina proved more and more to be an anomaly the likes of which he'd so rarely encountered. As they traveled back into the thick expanse of forest, she radiated no apprehension or fear, but pure excitement and ambition, dancing across her skin like invisible fireworks. There was something else though, something that grew underneath that excitement grew rapidly within her...

His words began to elicit gasps from her, as though his voice sent chills up and down her spine. It was that needy, almost yearning tone in her voice as she stopped to reinforce her wards that Nairth smiled, stepping forward and placing a hand on her back as he had before after she expertly cast the ward she'd been using to protect herself, the process both beautiful and complex. What he said next was bold, forward, and likely unnecessary, although Fae were not known for their subtlety. "Relax. Fighting the effects will only make them more prevalent in your mind. Breathe, and focus on that breathing. The effect may pass, so long as you acted fast enough. If it does not, I will assist you." Just how he would go about doing that, he did not elaborate upon. It left little to imagine, however.

She seemed to relax, and the heat of a woman in need seemed to die out from the air around them. She gave him a smile and clambered over the rock to reach the next spot. "It does not affect me unless I ingest the seeds, else I would very much relate to your plight. If it was strong enough to begin chipping at your wards, you can bet we will have company." Of course, Nairth was powerful enough to cast much more powerful wards, that would leave no room for doubt. This was to be Selina's test and none other's however.


Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"Relax. Fighting the effects will only make them more prevalent in your mind. Breathe, and focus on that breathing. The effect may pass, so long as you acted fast enough. If it does not, I will assist you."

His touch on her back through her dark cloak was reassuring to her. She took his advice and focused on her breathing to keep her focus, fortunately her mind was back under her control otherwise her imagination might have taken off with her on what he meant by 'assist'. But still, his light flirtation couldn't be missed anymore... She smiled but as she worked she knew only that she had to be very cautious. Consorts of the fae are often never seen again within the lifetimes of those that knew them and it would do no good to learn magical secrets and not return to share them.

"It does not affect me unless I ingest the seeds, else I would very much relate to your plight. If it was strong enough to begin chipping at your wards, you can bet we will have company."

That was a warning she took seriously. The insects kept trying to crawl over her fingers to reach the seeds as she worked to plant them and she kept having to shoo them away.
She got them planted and began setting up her wards around the seeds. She considered using the Ruby Reds again but decided to go for a different approach.
Muttering her alien incantations and writing in the air she conjured several differently colored magic circles with runes scribed along their circumference. She manipulated the circles, rotating them with clockwise motions of her hands and selecting different runes, changing them, combining them. Four circles were formulated, rotating within each other at opposite rotations. Complex magical information and instructions reduced into comprehensible symbols which were further reduced into other symbols.

With one final drawn symbol in the air she cast her spell.
The circles merged into green arcane energy and shot itself at the ground, covering the grass, weeds, and other plant life. The grass shuddered once and then quickly began growing, twisting and combining into a large humanoid shape... A plant guardian bound to this clearing.
She found a rock and with a hammer and chisel she etched another symbol into the rock, whispered another incantation and buried it.

She rose and brushed her hands off on her cloak.
What she did was create a renewing guardian, so long as that stone remained in the clearing this guardian couldn't be permanently destroyed and it would tend and protect the violets.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

He wondered if her opinion would have changed had she known that he was intentionally playing with her emotions while she'd been vulnerable? He was a Fae, after all; stoic and intimidating as he may be, it was in his nature to be at least somewhat playful. Besides, Selina was proving to be an attractive specimen. Nairth wouldn't have stopped himself from indulging, just a bit.

Well, it wouldn't do any harm either way, and after his palm slowly slid from her back, he would take a few steps away from her to observe whatever it was she intended to do this time. She was already lowered to the ground and hurriedly digging a suitable place for the seeds. Nairth's ears perked up a bit at a distant sound, far from where the pair of them stood: It was a howl, one that he recognized as a call to arms between a pack of wolves.

Of course, they would be the first to take serious note of the traveling scent with their enhanced sense of smell. "Do make haste, Selina. I believe our first true threat will be here in a matter of minutes." He warned as she began her next incantation. This spell was even more complicated than the last; numerous brilliantly glowing runes and circles surrounded her as she worked, indecipherable to even him without the proper time to focus on them. She was increasing the intensity of her work with every group of seeds she planted, even though she could have easily placed simple wards on the lot of them.

"Miss Selina..." He nearly purred as the guardian she summoned forth raised to stand tall over the spot she'd planted the seeds. What a magnificent display of power it was. Even he would have been hard-pressed to deliver such an impeccable performance. As she would turn back to him, he crossed his hands behind his back and smiled knowingly at her. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to show off to me that time. Very stunning. Incredibly so."

Looking behind him, he clears his throat. Selina would swear she could see him begin to glow ever so slightly, as the hair on the back of his neck rises. "They're nearing. We must move. It is a large pack, so it may be wise to retreat to safety for the night. Unless, you'd rather take the risk and continue?"

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"Do make haste, Selina. I believe our first true threat will be here in a matter of minutes."

Her head snapped up at the howls of the forest predators.
"It was only a matter of time. This plant sure is potent, I wonder if it's wise for it to grow outside of your realm at all..."
She mused idly as she finished her spells.

"Miss Selina..." He nearly purred as the guardian she summoned forth raised to stand tall over the spot she'd planted the seeds. What a magnificent display of power it was. Even he would have been hard-pressed to deliver such an impeccable performance. As she would turn back to him, he crossed his hands behind his back and smiled knowingly at her. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to show off to me that time. Very stunning. Incredibly so."

She smiled and curtsied for him as if she just completed a performance, "That is my purpose at the moment. I plan to complete this task with as much flair and creativity as possible to sufficiently impress you."
She climbs back over the rocks to his side, the guardian could handle wolves, it had many spores and defensive abilities that could drive away such threats.

She looked at him. If she didn't know any better she might have suspected that he was slightly flustered by her, he seemed to adopt an air of awkwardness... Flattering, yet it also put her very much on guard. She doubted he needed protection from the seeds but she was slowly getting the feeling that she was the prey in this scenario...

"They're nearing. We must move. It is a large pack, so it may be wise to retreat to safety for the night. Unless, you'd rather take the risk and continue?"

She considered his warning. She checked her bag to see how many seeds she had left, still quite a few. It was better to avoid a fight, she didn't need to impress him THAT much, and she doubted he would approve overly much of killing forest creatures. If they stopped for the night then perhaps she could figure out a more reliable way to seal away the effects of the seeds and start fresh in the morning... But her own instincts cautioned her about the fae, demonic creatures were more reliably evil, predictable in their intentions... But the fae... Would she even wake up in the same century?

She gathered her resolve to potentially severely insult a very powerful creature.
"If I have your word that I will return to the world I know unharmed and unaltered, then we can retreat to safety and continue in the morning. I have some fine tuning to do on my spells and planning for other methods of protection."
She didn't know if she had the power to face down a fae... Yet... She could only rely on his good graces and hope it didn't come to a fight for her freedom.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Flustered was not the phrase Nairth would have used to describe how he felt about the woman. He felt something closer to admiration towards Selina; to devote oneself so wholly to the study and practice of her craft when one's kind had such a limited lifespan was touching to a being who was so connected to life itself. Her skills were beyond her years, and she would only improve with time. She was correct, however: The task she'd been given was to impress Nairth with her ability, and so far she had done well.

At her curtsy, he would bow back with an amused grin crossing his lips. "Of course, I am just appreciating talent that I do not have the privilege of witnessing from humans very often. I assure you I have been noting everything I see." He couldn't go letting her think she'd already won him over. After all, they were just getting started. That being said, he was hoping she did choose the wiser option and reture; he was sure that she could protect herself, but the loss of life was likely. Nairth didn't like the idea of that.

Of course, she had no reason to reliably trust in a Fae's word, and Nairth wouldn't have expected her to. For what were they but tricky and mischevious beings who enjoyed meddling in the affairs of others at every opportunity? No, he expected the doubt that seemed to cross her face as she seemed to mull over his warning. "You have my word as Chamberlain of Spring and Hand of Oberon that you will remain unharmed and unaltered, as per your request." One needed to be exact in there wordings with such promises... She'd done well enough.

He hurried them along on the way back to his grove; the protections he placed there were strong enough to prevent any such danger from reaching them, and night was falling quickly. By dawn he expected the predators of the forest to have calmed considerably. It was as they crossed that protection that he spoke, something in response to the muttered doubt she'd voiced, barely audible over the crunch of her own feet against the grass. "In time, they will spread, and I will protect them myself. They deserve not exile simply because of their effect. It would be like condemming the bee because of it's sting, or the lion because of it's hunger..."

Re-emerging in the grove they had began in, Nairth raised his hands up high, the treetops swaying and shifting at his call to allow moonlight to bathe his home in bright waves. The water of the stream and the small lake glistened, and the wind seemed to calm at his presence. Narith himself seemed to sway slightly in time with the trees, humming lowly back at Selina. "You did well, Selina. So far you have proven to be nearly everything I hoped for. I have decided that I will grant you a small boon of your choice on this night. Something to whet your appetite for tomorrow."

These were not wishes he granted very often, but he knew that Selina's bravery deserved reward. He turns to her, sliding the colorful robe he ore off of his shoulders and down his body, letting the fabric rest at his waist to cover him from his hips down. It as not for no reason, of course, Nairth was gliding hands shining with an emerald glow over his own torso, seeming to inspect himself. "Excellent, none of the scent has clung to me. Now, what of you? What is a reward you may seek?"

Selina Altas

 

[Selina Della Altas]

"You have my word as Chamberlain of Spring and Hand of Oberon that you will remain unharmed and unaltered, as per your request."

She nodded and let out a sigh, that was the best she could ask for.
She followed him in equal silence till they returned to his grove and he addressed her musings.

"In time, they will spread, and I will protect them myself. They deserve not exile simply because of their effect. It would be like condemning the bee because of it's sting, or the lion because of it's hunger..."

She was slightly confused by his analogies, they didn't quite fit in her opinion.
"The bee and the Lion are not defenseless, most plants have poisons or thorns to help protect them against many predators and help propagate their species. This is a flower with predators everywhere and no natural defense, in fact they attract predators with no repercussions, protection in controlled environments is the only way for them to survive or to modify them through transmutation to defend themselves."
They arrived back in the Grove and once more they were within the fae's realm where he had absolute control and she was at his mercy. Moonlight flooded the clearing.

"You did well, Selina. So far you have proven to be nearly everything I hoped for. I have decided that I will grant you a small boon of your choice on this night. Something to whet your appetite for tomorrow."

She thought about it... Theeeeen his robe fell to his waist and she quickly looked to the side out of politeness.

"Excellent, none of the scent has clung to me. Now, what of you? What is a reward you may seek?"

She still averted her eyes but from her research she knew to expect some of this, the fae were primordial in a sense, they had a close connection to nature.
She was reminded of her dealings with the Leafsey Lord in the witches coven that aided in their spellcraft.
"My lord... If you could just share what magic is to you, just that little bit of knowledge would greatly aid my research..."
She found a mass of roots under a tree and sat down, pulling out her spellbook and a pen and inkwell.
She kept her wards up, unsure if the charming effects of the seeds would continue to affect her in the Grove.

She kept her eyes on her book. It wasn't that she found him unattractive, he was almost unnaturally beautiful... But even during her schooling at the college of Elbion relationships took a backseat to her study of magic. Eventually she wanted to find the love of her life, but this journey to learn the secrets of reality itself has consumed her... Her research has brought her close but the Herald has stood in her way at nearly every turn, so she's been forced to go to other lengths to learn these secrets.
The Fae would be just a step in that direction, if the Herald didn't prevent her, she would learn whatever he was willing to teach her.

 

[Nairth San'Seya]

Nairth couldn't deny that her reasoning was sound. It was true that the gerrin root had little in terms of defense, and that it attracted predators quite powerfully. Even so, she was making a few assumptions about the violet-colored plants he was so fond of. It was not their sexuality-enhancing properties that cause Nairth to covet them so. Fae are just as capable of favoritism as any other creed, and Nairth's propensity for defending the Gerrin Root was seated deeper in his heart than Selina could yet see.

Wrapping his robe around his waist to keep it secure there whilst being quite oblivious to Altas's discomfort at the situation, he would turn on his heel to walk slowly towards one of the small brooks running through the ground to feed the small pond at the center of his grove. "It is not necessarily the plant itself that evokes such powerful reactions, else I may be inclined to agree..." A soft smile crosses his lips as he watches the small fish swim through the brook towards his grove's heart, towards safety.

Nairth reaches down, dipping his large hand into the cool water to scoop some of the crystal clear lifeblood into his palm and bringing it to his mouth to sip from it. He would repeat this, gathering water in his palm and this time splashing it gently onto his forehead, wiping away the bit of sweat that had accumulated on his brow from the humid air. "It is the seeds that cause such commotion. Before the flowers bloom, they have no such effect on other creatures. In fact, they enrich the soil beneath them with their presence..." Placing a hand on his knee, Nairth raises once more, this time assuming a stance much less formal; his shoulders dipped slightly, and his head tilted casually to one side. "When the seeds are exposed, as the flower blooms, it becomes intoxicating to the surrounding life. Even that serves a purpose, though..."

Gentle steps are taken towards Selina, and then beyond her as he walks to the base of one of the trees surrounding the grove's center. Nestled in a knot of wood and vines is a worn wooden chest, the wood paled with age. Leaning down to click the lock and swing it open, Nairth retrieves an old scrap of parchment from the chest before returning to Selina. "Once upon a time, this forest was on the verge of being wiped out by the bourgeoning population in Arethil. Rampant hunting and the harvesting of trees when this continent was initially discovered did much damage to these lands."

He unfolds the parchment, revealing a drawing of the very plants she'd been helping him to plant, the picture faded and ancient. "I was young, and ambitious. I created the gerrin root violets myself in order to save this forest. I spread the seeds far and wide... they grew slowly, enriching the thirsty soil with their presence. When they bloomed, what creatures remained in the forest would consume the seeds and procreate, repopulating." He explained with a smile. They were not some wildly mutated plants with an extremely unfortunate trait that made them prime targets for consumption. They had been designed with that function in mind. "There is a chance... that I may have to leave this grove relatively soon. If that happens, I wish for some semblance of my legacy here to remain. It is a selfish cause, but that is the meaning behind your task. To spread life, as I did in my youth..."

She was doing her best to avoid looking at him, and Nairth only now followed her brief glances to his bare chest. A low chuckle rumbles from his throat. "Ah. I do not mind you looking at me. If it offends you, though. I will cover myself. Apologies for my immodesty."

"My lord... If you could just share what magic is to you, just that little bit of knowledge would greatly aid my research..."

He raises his eyebrows. Nairth expected no less from the scholarly woman, and yet... she had already done quite well. She wanted to know his beliefs on what magic was? It was a rather wide question, but one that Nairth had a simple enough answer to.

"Magic is the lifeblood of our world. It runs through the ground beneath our feet at all times, charges the air around us with it's strength, fills the water we drink to survive. It is those such as you and I, who draw it out of the leys and harness it who know it as Magic. To everybody else, it is merely superstition, attributed to fate and luck. These energies control so much more than we give them credit for, and even the Fey will never fully understand the way this world works. You, Selina Altas, have the gift of bending this world's energy to your will, to serve you. Cherish that gift."

Selina Altas